Vanessa Abrahamson Blog: Nike Portland XC Cross Country Meet returns with elite prep runners from across the West Coast

Monday, December 26, 2022

Nike Portland XC Cross Country Meet returns with elite prep runners from across the West Coast

The Nike Portland XC Cross Country Meet is back.

A year after COVID-19 canceled the premier West Coast event, it returns for the 41st time on Saturday as Aloha High School at Blue Lake Regional Park in Fairview hosts a bevy of talented runners from states along the coast.

“We are excited to welcome cross-country athletes back to elite racing after missing the 2020 season,” said Aloha cross-country coach Ken Martinez. “We will have some of the best programs and athletes in the region and the West Coast competing in Portland. The course will challenge our athletes and test teams hoping to win their national championships.”

One hundred teams comprising over 2,500 athletes will compete in 18 races, including four divisions of boys’ and girls’ varsity events. The gathering culminates in the Boys’ and Girls’ Danner Championships, which sees 25 of the elite teams and individual athletes from across the region and nation compete on a course Martinez describes as “fast, challenging and easy to follow.”

Though several programs have been suspended at the last minute due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the event will host athletes from multiple states including Oregon, Washington, California and Colorado.

“That’s one of the things that makes this meetup unique when athletes compete against kids from teams from Idaho and Washington and California and Arizona,” Martinez said.

It will be one of the nation’s first major gatherings following the coronavirus pandemic and the results will have a significant impact on national rankings for both teams and individuals.

“We’re trying to make it a memorable, fun experience,” Martinez said. “Something kids look forward to and want to come back and do it again.”

The event has no shortage of talent. West Torrance, a high-ranking team in Southern California according to DyeStat and PrepCalTrack, is the Danner boys’ favorite. Other Southern California programs like Mira Costa and Vista Murrieta, in addition to Oregon powers Ida B. Wells, Summit and Sunset, will also be battling for top spots.

South Medford’s Michael Maiorano, DyeStats 20th runner, is the favorite for the individual crown in the Danner Championship based on his 5,000 meter course with a time of 14 minutes and 37 seconds. But 23rd-ranked runner Caleb Lakeman of Tualatin has run under 3pm in the 5k twice this season and will push Maiorano forward. Other contenders include Sherwood’s Jeffery Rogers (No. 50), Lincoln’s Aiden Smith (No. 66) and Colorado’s Evan Kraus (No. 80).

The Girls Danner Championship is supposed to be the marquee. Summit is the defending champion and the third-place team, but is challenged by No. 2 Cherry Creek (Colorado). Other statewide programs include Mira Costa of California (#29), Ida B. Wells (#30), J Serra Catholic of California (#35), and Lincoln (#37).

Eventually, the girls’ individual race was to come to the final mile. Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart is 4th and the favorite. But Mira Costa’s Dalia Frias (No.16) could surprise after setting a time of 15:43 at the Woodbridge XC Classic. Ella Borsheim of Bellarmine Prep (Washington) is in 15th place and won the 2019 event. Ana and Kate Peters of Lake Oswego and Teaghan Knox of Summit should also be there.

The meet begins at 9:00 am with the junior varsity girls’ 5,000 meter race, and the first varsity race – the Danner girls’ championship – follows at 10:50 am. Gates open at 7:30am. For more information visit: nikeportlandxc.runnerspace.com/

— Shane Hoffmann, for The Oregonian/OregonLive

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